The Wandering Trail: Episode Three

Hey wanderers! Welcome back to another episode guide. As always, this "Wandering Trail" is your companion to the podcast—a little map to help you explore the places we discussed and find your way deeper into the lore.

Listen to Episode 3

In this episode, we asked ourselves the ultimate question: If you could pack up tomorrow and actually live anywhere in Middle-earth, where would you go? Not just visit—actually settle down, build a life, maybe retire there someday. It's harder than you think! From the cozy comfort of the Shire to the majestic mountains and seas of Lindon, we explored what makes each location special and what our choices say about us. Let's dive in!

Angela's Choice: Lindon

After much deliberation (and a week of staring at maps), Angela chose Lindon—the westernmost realm of Middle-earth. While her knee-jerk answer might have been Lothlorien, thinking about actually living somewhere day-to-day changed everything. Lindon offers the perfect trifecta: forests, rocky mountains, and ocean access at the Grey Havens. It's got that West Coast vibe with incredible geography diversity, which was the deciding factor.

For those less familiar with Lindon, it's that narrow strip of land west of the Blue Mountains and the Shire—the last remnant of the ancient continent of Beleriand that sank into the ocean after the War of Wrath. By the Third Age, it's where Círdan the Shipwright oversees the Grey Havens, the departure point for Elves sailing to the Undying Lands.

• Where to find it: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Book 6, Chapter 9: The Grey Havens) and The Silmarillion (Chapter 24: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath).

• For a deeper dive: Amazon's The Rings of Power (Season 1) features Lindon prominently as the seat of High King Gil-galad's realm in the Second Age.

Kelsey's Choice: The Shire

Kelsey went full hobbit and chose the Shire—specifically, she'd want a hobbit hole in Hobbiton or maybe Buckland or a more Tookish part of the Shire. Her criteria? Cozy vibes, built-in community, excellent food culture, and minimal risk of Balrogs or Nazgûl showing up at your door. The Shire represents that perfect pastoral life where the biggest drama is gossip at the Green Dragon and deciding which neighbor makes the best seed cakes.

The real estate market in the Shire probably offers everything from modest hobbit holes to the luxurious Great Smials of the Tooks. Plus, there's something deeply appealing about living in a place where the most exciting adventure is a surprise party and your main concerns are your garden and what's for elevenses.

• Where to find it: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Prologue and Book 1, Chapters 1-3) and The Hobbit (Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party).

• For a deeper dive: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Book 6, Chapter 8: The Scouring of the Shire) shows what the Shire means to those who love it and what happens when it's threatened.

Other Locations We Considered

Rivendell (Imladris)

The quintessential Middle-earth sanctuary. Beautiful waterfalls, incredible architecture, Elrond's legendary library, and guaranteed intellectual conversation at dinner.

• Where to find it: The Hobbit (Chapter 3: A Short Rest) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 2, Chapter 1: Many Meetings).

• For a deeper dive: The Council of Elrond (The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter 2) showcases the intellectual and diplomatic culture of Rivendell, while Appendix B of The Return of the King provides historical context for Elrond's founding of Imladris.

  
  

Lothlorien

Living in tree houses among the Mallorn trees with their magical golden leaves year-round has obvious appeal. But then again, could you handle living under Galadriel's all-seeing gaze? She seems to know everything. Also, the extreme exclusivity and Elvish perfection might get intimidating. Beautiful to visit, but perhaps not ideal as a permanent residence unless you're truly committed to the Elvish lifestyle.

• Where to find it: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 2, Chapters 6-8: Lothlorien, The Mirror of Galadriel, and Farewell to Lórien).

• For a deeper dive: Unfinished Tales (Part 2, Chapter 4: The History of Galadriel and Celeborn) provides extensive background on Lothlorien's founding and the nature of its timeless quality under Galadriel's protection.

Minas Tirith

The White City has seven levels of architectural magnificence crowned by the Citadel. Living here would be like inhabiting a historical monument—impressive, but accompanied by a lot of stairs on a daily basis. We appreciated the culture, the library, and the strategic importance, but agreed the commute from Level 1 to Level 7 would become tiresome. Also you do have Mordor as a neighbor....

• Where to find it: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Book 5, Chapters 1 and 4: Minas Tirith and The Siege of Gondor).

• For a deeper dive: The Return of the King (Book 5, Chapter 1: Minas Tirith) contains detailed descriptions of the city's architecture and levels, while Appendix A discusses the history of Gondor and the significance of the White City.

Doriath (The Hidden Kingdom)

Kelsey made a strong case for Doriath—the legendary hidden kingdom of Beleriand from the First Age. Protected by the Girdle of Melian, this secluded realm offered unparalleled beauty and safety, with the magnificent palace of Menegroth (the Thousand Caves) serving as its jewel. The Sindar Elves under King Thingol and Queen Melian created a sanctuary where craftsmanship and culture flourished in isolation.

The appeal is obvious: magical protection, stunning underground architecture, and a rich cultural life. The drawbacks? The isolation could become stifling, and history suggests that even the most powerful barriers eventually fail when the world outside becomes too dangerous to ignore.

• Where to find it: The Silmarillion (Chapters 10, 14, 19, and 21-22: Of the Sindar, Of Beleriand and Its Realms, Of Beren and Lúthien, and Of the Ruin of Doriath).

• For a deeper dive: Unfinished Tales (Part 1, Chapter 2: The Tale of the Children of Húrin) provides additional context about life in Doriath during the First Age, while The Lays of Beleriand contains poetic versions of stories set in and around the hidden kingdom.

Gondolin (The Hidden City)

The Hidden City of Gondolin represents perhaps the most ambitious urban planning project in Middle-earth history. Founded by King Turgon in the First Age, this Elven city was concealed within a ring of mountains and remained undiscovered for centuries. Gondolin featured white walls, beautiful fountains, and arguably the finest architecture of any Elven realm. The isolation provided safety and allowed high culture to flourish—until it didn't.

The appeal is clear: living in what was essentially a mountain fortress combined with an architectural masterpiece, protected by both geography and secrecy. The drawbacks? The same isolation that provided safety also created vulnerability to betrayal, and the city's eventual fall was catastrophic. Also, getting in and out required navigating a secret passage through the mountains, which would make routine errands rather inconvenient.

• Where to find it: The Silmarillion (Chapters 15 and 23: Of the Noldor in Beleriand and Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin).

• For a deeper dive: The Fall of Gondolin (edited by Christopher Tolkien, 2018) provides the most complete version of Gondolin's story, from its founding to its destruction. Unfinished Tales (Part 1, Chapter 1: Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin) offers additional details about the city's location and the hidden entrance.

Dwarven Kingdoms

Beyond Doriath, we also considered the great Dwarven kingdoms throughout Middle-earth's history. Khazad-dûm (later known as Moria) stands as the crown jewel—the most magnificent of all Dwarven realms, with the vast halls of Durin's Folk extending deep beneath the Misty Mountains. Then there's Erebor under the Lonely Mountain, the Iron Hills, and the cities in the Blue Mountains.

These kingdoms share certain appeals: unparalleled craftsmanship and stonework, impressive defensive capabilities, rich mineral wealth, and strong community bonds forged through centuries of tradition. The underground setting provides natural climate control and protection from external threats.

However, the drawbacks are significant: limited natural light (which could affect one's health and mood), potential claustrophobia for those unaccustomed to enclosed spaces, vulnerability to subterranean threats (Balrogs in Khazad-dûm, dragons at Erebor), and relative isolation from the broader world. Still, for those who appreciate masterful stonework and don't mind the perpetual twilight, a Dwarven kingdom offers an undeniably unique lifestyle.

• Where to find it: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 2, Chapter 4: A Journey in the Dark) describes Moria in detail. The Hobbit (Chapters 11-13) covers Erebor. Appendix A of The Return of the King provides the history of the Dwarven kingdoms.

• For a deeper dive: The Silmarillion (Chapter 10: Of the Sindar and Chapter 16: Of Maeglin) discusses the founding of Khazad-dûm and the relationship between Dwarves and Elves. Unfinished Tales (Part 3, Chapter 3: The Quest of Erebor) provides Gandalf's perspective on the importance of the Lonely Mountain.

Gondor's Coastal Towns

We also considered living in Dol Amroth or other coastal regions of Gondor. Ocean access, Mediterranean climate, and still part of a great kingdom but without the intensity of Minas Tirith. It's like choosing a charming seaside town over the capital city—more relaxed, but you still enjoy the cultural benefits of being part of Gondor.

• Where to find it: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Book 5, Chapter 1: Minas Tirith) mentions Dol Amroth and Prince Imrahil.

What Your Choice Says About You

We realized that where you'd want to live in Middle-earth says a lot about your personality and priorities:

• The Shire: You value community, comfort, and predictability. You'd rather have a peaceful life surrounded by good food and good neighbors than grand adventures.

• Rivendell/Lothlorien: You're drawn to beauty, culture, and intellectual pursuits. You don't mind a bit of formality for the sake of living in paradise.

• Lindon: You need variety and can't be pinned down to just one type of landscape. You want options and adventure at your doorstep.

• Gondor: You appreciate history, grandeur, and being part of something larger than yourself, even if it means navigating some bureaucracy.

• Doriath: You value beauty, culture, and the security that comes from strong protective boundaries. You appreciate the balance of isolation and community, and you're drawn to places where art and safety coexist.

• Gondolin: You're drawn to perfection and exclusivity, valuing both high culture and strong security. You appreciate the idea of a hidden sanctuary where beauty can flourish without external interference, though you recognize that complete isolation may be unsustainable.

• Dwarven Kingdoms: You appreciate craftsmanship, tradition, and the satisfaction of creating lasting works. You're comfortable with enclosed spaces and value the security and community that comes from underground strongholds. Natural light is indeed overrated.

• Mordor: If you're genuinely considering Mordor, we need to have a serious conversation about your life choices. Perhaps you're drawn to fixer-uppers with "potential," or you have an unusually high tolerance for environmental devastation and occupational hazards. More realistically, this choice suggests you enjoy being contrarian for the sake of it.

The Geography of Middle-earth

One of our biggest takeaways from this discussion was just how rich and diverse Tolkien's geography is. He created an entire world with such distinct regions that you can genuinely debate the pros and cons of living in each one. From the pastoral English countryside of the Shire to the Mediterranean coasts of Gondor to the Pacific Northwest vibes of Lindon, there's something for everyone.

It's the ultimate power move in worldbuilding—Tolkien didn't just write a story and fit some locations around it. He invented languages, created entire geological histories, mapped out trade routes and cultural regions, and THEN wrote stories that took place in this fully-realized world. No wonder we can spend an entire episode debating real estate in Middle-earth!

Questions for You, Dear Wanderer

Now it's your turn! We want to know:

• Where would YOU want to live in Middle-earth?

• What factors matter most to you—geography, culture, safety, climate?

• Would your answer change depending on what stage of life you're in?

• Are there locations we didn't consider that you'd choose?

• What's your hard pass location—where would you absolutely NOT want to live?

We hope this episode inspired you to think about Middle-earth not just as a place to visit in stories, but as a world you could genuinely imagine living in. That's the magic of Tolkien's creation—it feels real enough that we can have these conversations!

We'd love to hear your thoughts! Tell us where you'd live in Middle-earth—email us at hello@beyondthebrandywine.com or reach out on social media. Don't forget to subscribe to Beyond the Brandywine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at @BeyondTheBrandywine.